Just at this time another
danger threatened India. China sent a letter, which said, "The Indian army has set up
army equipment in Chinese territory. India should pull down this equipment. Otherwise it
will have to face the wrath of China."

At that moment India was fighting against the Pakistani army equipped with the latest
weapons supplied in plety by the United States of America. And, at this very moment how
was India to resist China?

China's allegations were a bundle of lies. If India removed the military equipment she
would be admitting that China's charges were true. Also, that would mean India was afraid
of China.

Even the big nations waited breathlessly to see what Lal Bahadur would say and what
India would do.

Lal Bahadur did not take long to give a reply. The letter from China was received on
the morning of 17th September 1965. He made a statement in the Parliament the
same afternoon. He declared: "China's allegation is untrue. If China attacks India it
is our firm resolve to fight for our freedom. The might of China will not deter us from
defending our territorial integrity."

China kept quiet.

India's soldiers had no fear of death and fought
most splendidly and heroically. The army and the air force functioned like the two arms of
a single body. The invaders were beaten. The Pakistani army could not stand against the
Indian army. It was then that, for the first time, the world came to realize the supremacy
of the Indian army.